Rashad Owens, the suspect in the SXSW wreck, is seen in an undated booking mug provided Friday, March 14, 2014.

Photo: Courtesy

Rashad Owens, the suspect in the SXSW wreck, is seen in an undated...

Image 2 of 54

People line up for shows outside the Mohawk Thursday March 13, 2014 in Austin, Tx., near the scene where at least 2 people were killed by a motorist fleeing police.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News

People line up for shows outside the Mohawk Thursday March 13, 2014...

Image 3 of 54

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo answers questions from the media after a vigil at St. David's Episcopal Church, Thursday March 13, 2014 in Austin, Tx., for the victims of the South by Southwest crash.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo answers questions from the media...

Image 4 of 54

People line up for shows outside the Mohawk Thursday March 13, 2014 in Austin, Tx., near the scene where 2 people were killed and 23 others injured early Thursday morning by a motorist fleeing police.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News

People line up for shows outside the Mohawk Thursday March 13, 2014...

Image 5 of 54

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo (left) and St. David's Episcopal Church assistant priest Bob Gibble attend a vigil at St. David's Episcopal Church, Thursday March 13, 2014 in Austin, Tx., for the victims of the South by Southwest crash.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo (left) and St. David's Episcopal...

Image 6 of 54

People line up for shows outside the Mohawk Thursday March 13, 2014 in Austin, Tx., near the scene where 2 people were killed and 23 others injured early Thursday morning by a motorist fleeing police.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News

People line up for shows outside the Mohawk Thursday March 13, 2014...

Image 7 of 54

People pray during a vigil at St. David's Episcopal Church, Thursday March 13, 2014 in Austin, Tx., for the victims of the South by Southwest crash.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News

People pray during a vigil at St. David's Episcopal Church,...

Image 8 of 54

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo (left) hugs Kristin Day, who is attending South by Southwest, during a vigil at St. David's Episcopal Church, Thursday March 13, 2014 in Austin, Tx., for the victims of the South by Southwest crash.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo (left) hugs Kristin Day, who is...

Image 9 of 54

Dozens attended a candlelight vigil at St. David's Episcopal Church in Austin for the victims of the South by Southwest crash for late afternoon Thursday, March 13, 2014.

Photo: Lorne Chan/San Antonio Express-News

Dozens attended a candlelight vigil at St. David's Episcopal Church...

Image 10 of 54

Rashad Charjuan Owens of Killeen is seen in an undated booking mug provided March 13, 2014 by the Bell County Sheriff Department. Owens allegedly attempted to evade a police checkpoint in Austin early Thursday morning March 13, 2014, running through barricades at SXSW killing two people and injuring 23 others in the process.

Photo: Courtesy Photo/Bell County Sheriff Department

Rashad Charjuan Owens of Killeen is seen in an undated booking mug...

Image 11 of 54

Investigators continue to work the scene on Red River where a man fleeing police drove through a closed street filled with pedestrians killing 2 and injuring 23 more during the SXSW Music Festival held in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, March 13, 2014.

Photo: Rodolfo Gonzalez, Associated Press

Investigators continue to work the scene on Red River where a man...

Image 12 of 54

Crime scene tape near the scene Thursday March 13, 2014, of the tragic accident when Rashad Charjuan Owens, 22, of Killeen, drove a vehicle past barricades and into a crowd of people at Red River and Ninth Streets in downtown Austin, Texas. The crash killed two people and injured 23 more.

Photo: Laura Skelding, Associated Press

Crime scene tape near the scene Thursday March 13, 2014, of the...

Image 13 of 54

Flowers placed against a utility pole near the scene where 2 people were killed and 23 others injured when a motorist fleeing police drove his car through a crowd of pedestrians near Mohawks during SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, March 13, 2014. The driver, identified as Rashad Charjuan Owens, 21, of Killeen, was taken into custody will face capital murder charges.

Photo: Rodolfo Gonzalez, Associated Press

Flowers placed against a utility pole near the scene where 2 people...

Image 14 of 54

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo speaks Thursday March 13, 2014 in downtown Austin after two people were killed and more than 20 people were injured after a man in a car attempted to evade police at about 12:30 a.m. The driver of the vehicle sped down a barricaded portion Red River street where the South by Southwest Music Festival was taking place and hit more than 20 people in his car. A cyclist from the Netherlands was killed and a female riding on a moped was killed. The suspect, a black adult male, was tazed and apprehended and will face capital murder charges.

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo speaks Thursday March 13, 2014 in...

Image 15 of 54

Austin mayor Lee Leffingwell (center, at lectern) speaks Thursday March 13, 2014 at a press conference in downtown Austin after two people were killed and more than 20 people were injured after a man in a car attempted to evade police at about 12:30 a.m. The driver of the vehicle sped down a barricaded portion Red River street where the South by Southwest Music Festival was taking place and hit more than 20 people in his car. A cyclist from the Netherlands was killed and a female riding on a moped was killed. The suspect, a black adult male, was tazed and apprehended and will face capital murder charges.

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News

Austin mayor Lee Leffingwell (center, at lectern) speaks Thursday...

Image 16 of 54

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo (center, at lectern) speaks Thursday March 13, at a press conference in downtown Austin after two people were killed and more than 20 people were injured after a man in a car attempted to evade police at about 12:30 a.m. The driver of the vehicle sped down a barricaded portion Red River street where the South by Southwest Music Festival was taking place and hit more than 20 people in his car. A cyclist from the Netherlands was killed and a female riding on a moped was killed. The suspect, a black adult male, was tazed and apprehended and will face capital murder charges.

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo (center, at lectern) speaks...

Image 17 of 54

Roland Swenson (center, at lectern), Managing Director of the South by Southwest Music Festival, speaks Thursday March 13, at a press conference in downtown Austin after two people were killed and more than 20 people were injured after a man in a car attempted to evade police at about 12:30 a.m. The driver of the vehicle sped down a barricaded portion Red River street where the South by Southwest Music Festival was taking place and hit more than 20 people in his car. A cyclist from the Netherlands was killed and a female riding on a moped was killed. The suspect, a black adult male, was tazed and apprehended and will face capital murder charges.

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Roland Swenson (center, at lectern), Managing Director of the South...

Image 18 of 54

This is the Shell station in downtown Austin at I-35 and 9th where an incident began that resulted in two deaths and more than 20 people being injured after a man in a car attempted to evade police at about 12:30 a.m. The driver of the vehicle sped down a barricaded portion Red River street where the South by Southwest Music Festival was taking place and hit more than 20 people in his car. A cyclist from the Netherlands was killed and a female riding on a moped was killed. The suspect, a black adult male, was tazed and apprehended and will face capital murder charges.

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

This is the Shell station in downtown Austin at I-35 and 9th where...

Image 19 of 54

This is the corner of 9th and Red River in downtown where a a motorist crashed through barriers that resulted in two deaths and more than 20 people being injured after a man in a car attempted to evade police at about 12:30 a.m. The driver of the vehicle sped down a barricaded portion Red River street where the South by Southwest Music Festival was taking place and hit more than 20 people in his car. A cyclist from the Netherlands was killed and a female riding on a moped was killed. The suspect, a black adult male, was tazed and apprehended and will face capital murder charges.

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

This is the corner of 9th and Red River in downtown where a a...

Image 20 of 54

This is the Mowhawk night club on Red River street in downtown where a a motorist crashed through barriers that resulted in two deaths and more than 20 people being injured after a man in a car attempted to evade police at about 12:30 a.m. The driver of the vehicle sped down a barricaded portion Red River street where the South by Southwest Music Festival was taking place and hit more than 20 people in his car. A cyclist from the Netherlands was killed and a female riding on a moped was killed. The suspect, a black adult male, was tazed and apprehended and will face capital murder charges.

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

This is the Mowhawk night club on Red River street in downtown...

Image 21 of 54

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo addresses the media during a press conference about Thursday morning's tragic accident during SXSW when Rashad Charjuan Owens, 22, of Killeen, drove a vehicle past barricades and into a crowd of people at Red River and Ninth Streets in downtown Austin, Texas. The crash killed two people and injured 23 more.

Photo: Laura Skelding, Associated Press

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo addresses the media during a press...

Image 22 of 54

SXSW managing director Roland Swenson address the media during a news conference on Thursday, March 13, 2014 in Austin, Texas. Swenson said the festival will continue. A suspected drunken driver barreled through police barricades and drove down a crowded street at the South by Southwest festival early Thursday morning, killing two people and injuring 23 in an act authorities say was intentional. The driver struck multiple pedestrians at about 12:30 a.m. on a block filled with concertgoers, continued down the street and hit and killed a man from the Netherlands on a bicycle and a woman from Austin on a moped, Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said.

Photo: Shweta Gulati, Associated Press

SXSW managing director Roland Swenson address the media during a...

Image 23 of 54

Austin Police Chief address the media during a news conference on Thursday, March 13, 2014 in Austin, Texas. A suspected drunken driver barreled through police barricades and drove down a crowded street at the South by Southwest festival early Thursday morning, killing two people and injuring 23 in an act authorities say was intentional. The driver struck multiple pedestrians at about 12:30 a.m. on a block filled with concertgoers, continued down the street and hit and killed a man from the Netherlands on a bicycle and a woman from Austin on a moped, Acevedo said.

Photo: Shweta Gulati, Associated Press

Austin Police Chief address the media during a news conference on...

Image 24 of 54

Bystanders react after several people were struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, at SXSW on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say two people were confirmed dead at the scene after a car drove through temporary barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck a crowd of pedestrians.

Photo: Jay Janner, AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman/Statesman.com

Bystanders react after several people were struck by a vehicle on...

Image 25 of 54

A patient is carried away after being struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, during SXSW on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say two people were confirmed dead at the scene after a car drove through temporary barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck a crowd of pedestrians.

Photo: Jay Janner, AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman/Statesman.com

A patient is carried away after being struck by a vehicle on Red...

Image 26 of 54

Unidentified people are comforted after being struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, during SXSW on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say two people were confirmed dead at the scene after a car drove through temporary barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck a crowd of pedestrians.

Photo: Jay Janner, AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman/Statesman.com

Unidentified people are comforted after being struck by a vehicle...

Image 27 of 54

People are treated after being struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say two people were confirmed dead at the scene after a car drove through temporary barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck a crowd of pedestrians. The condition of the victims shown is unknown.

Photo: Jay Janner, AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman/Statesman.com

People are treated after being struck by a vehicle on Red River...

Image 28 of 54

A man is transported to an ambulance after being struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, during SXSW on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say two people were confirmed dead at the scene after a car drove through temporary barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck a crowd of pedestrians.

Photo: Jay Janner, AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman/Statesman.com

A man is transported to an ambulance after being struck by a...

Image 29 of 54

Bystanders tend to a man who was struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say two people were confirmed dead at the scene after a car drove through temporary barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck a crowd of pedestrians.

Photo: Jay Janner, AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman/Statesman.com

Bystanders tend to a man who was struck by a vehicle on Red River...

Image 30 of 54

People walk away after the accident on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, that left two dead at SXSW on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say a man and woman have been killed after a suspected drunken driver fleeing from arrest crashed through barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck the pair and others on a crowded street.

Photo: Jay Janner, AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman/Statesman.com

People walk away after the accident on Red River Street in downtown...

Image 31 of 54

People perform CPR on a woman after she was struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, at SXSW on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say a man and woman have been killed after a suspected drunken driver fleeing from arrest crashed through barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck the pair and others on a crowded street.

Photo: Jay Janner, AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman/Statesman.com

People perform CPR on a woman after she was struck by a vehicle on...

Image 32 of 54

A bystander and a police officer tend to a man who was struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, at SXSW on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say a man and woman have been killed after a suspected drunken driver fleeing from arrest crashed through barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck the pair and others on a crowded street.

Photo: Jay Janner, AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman/Statesman.com

A bystander and a police officer tend to a man who was struck by a...

Image 33 of 54

A man checks the condition of a man in the street after he was struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, during SXSW on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say two people have died after a car drove through temporary barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck a crowd of pedestrians.

Photo: Jay Janner, AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman/Statesman.com

A man checks the condition of a man in the street after he was...

Image 34 of 54

The crowd scatters seconds after several pedestrians were struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, during SXSW on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say two people have died after a car drove through temporary barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck a crowd of pedestrians.

Photo: Jay Janner, AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman/Statesman.com

The crowd scatters seconds after several pedestrians were struck by...

Image 35 of 54

Bystanders assist first responders at the scene at SXSW festival in Austin, TX early Thursday morning March 13, 2014 where 2 people died and dozens more were injured after a hit and run. Police say a man and woman have been killed after a drunken driver fleeing from arrest crashed through barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck the pair and others on a crowded street.

Photo: Colin Kerrigan, Associated Press

Bystanders assist first responders at the scene at SXSW festival in...

Image 36 of 54

People perform CPR on a woman after she was struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, at SXSW on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Her condition is unknown. Police say two people have died after a car drove through temporary barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck a crowd of pedestrians.

Photo: Jay Janner, AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman/Statesman.com

People perform CPR on a woman after she was struck by a vehicle on...

Image 37 of 54

People tend to those who were struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, during SXSW on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say two people have died after a car drove through temporary barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck a crowd of pedestrians.

Photo: Jay Janner, AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman/Statesman.com

People tend to those who were struck by a vehicle on Red River...

Image 38 of 54

People tend to those who were struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, during SXSW on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say two people have died after a car drove through temporary barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck a crowd of pedestrians.

Photo: Jay Janner, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

People tend to those who were struck by a vehicle on Red River...

Image 39 of 54

A man directs an ambulance to a man who was struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, during SXSW, March 12, 2014.

Photo: Jay Janner, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

A man directs an ambulance to a man who was struck by a vehicle on...

Image 40 of 54

A victim is carried away after being struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, during SXSW, March 12, 2014.

Photo: Jay Janner, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

A victim is carried away after being struck by a vehicle on Red...

Image 41 of 54

Dr. Christopher Ziebell, Director of the Emergency Unit for University Medical Center Brackenridge, briefs members of the media on the conditions of the patients that were injured in an early morning accident during the SXSW Music Festival held in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, March 13, 2014. A man fleeing from police drove his car through barricades and down a closed street crowded with pedestrians in downtown Austin killing 2 people and injuring 23 others.

Photo: Rodolfo Gonzalez, Associated Press

Dr. Christopher Ziebell, Director of the Emergency Unit for...

Image 42 of 54

Bystanders and paramedics tend to a person who was struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, at SXSW on Wednesday, March 12, 2014. Police say a man and woman have been killed after a suspected drunken driver fleeing from arrest crashed through barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck the pair and others on a crowded street.

Photo: Jay Janner, Associated Press

Bystanders and paramedics tend to a person who was struck by a...

Image 43 of 54

A man helps another man who was struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, at SXSW on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say two people have died after a car drove through temporary barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck a crowd of pedestrians.

Photo: Jay Janner, Associated Press

A man helps another man who was struck by a vehicle on Red River...

Image 44 of 54

Bystanders and a police officers move a person who was struck by a car on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, at SXSW on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say a man and woman have been killed after a suspected drunken driver fleeing from arrest crashed through barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck the pair and others on a crowded street.

Photo: Jay Janner, Associated Press

Bystanders and a police officers move a person who was struck by a...

Image 45 of 54

A man is transported to an ambulance after being struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say two people were confirmed dead at the scene after a car drove through temporary barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck a crowd of pedestrians. The condition of the man is unknown.

Photo: Jay Janner, Associated Press

A man is transported to an ambulance after being struck by a...

Image 46 of 54

Bystanders and a paramedics tend to people who were struck by a vehicle on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, at SXSW on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say a man and woman have been killed after a suspected drunken driver fleeing from arrest crashed through barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck the pair and others on a crowded street.

Photo: Jay Janner, Associated Press

Bystanders and a paramedics tend to people who were struck by a...

Image 47 of 54

People carry a person who was struck by a car on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, at SXSW on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say a man and woman have been killed after a suspected drunken driver fleeing from arrest crashed through barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck the pair and others on a crowded street.

Photo: Jay Janner, Associated Press

People carry a person who was struck by a car on Red River Street...

Image 48 of 54

People carry a person who was struck by a car on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, on Wednesday, March 12, 2014. Police say a man and woman have been killed after a suspected drunken driver fleeing from arrest crashed through barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck the pair and others on a crowded street.

Photo: Jay Janner, Associated Press

People carry a person who was struck by a car on Red River Street...

Image 49 of 54

Paramedics transport a person who was struck by a car on Red River Street in downtown Austin, Texas, at SXSW on Wednesday March 12, 2014. Police say a man and woman have been killed after a suspected drunken driver fleeing from arrest crashed through barricades set up for the South By Southwest festival and struck the pair and others on a crowded street.

Photo: Jay Janner, Associated Press

Paramedics transport a person who was struck by a car on Red River...

Image 50 of 54

The scene on Red River on Wednesday night.

The scene on Red River on Wednesday night.

Image 51 of 54

The scene on Red River on Wednesday night.

The scene on Red River on Wednesday night.

Image 52 of 54

The scene on Red River on Wednesday night.

The scene on Red River on Wednesday night.

Image 53 of 54

A photo of the aftermath at 10th and Red River in Austin, Texas, after a suspected drunk driver barreled through a police barricade and into a crowded street. Two were killed, 23 were injured, five critically, in the incident.

AUSTIN — A suspect who police say killed two people when he mowed down a festival crowd at Thursday's South by Southwest festival has been identified as a 21-year-old Killeen man.

Rashad Charjuan Owens is expected to be charged with two counts of capital murder and 23 counts of aggravated assault with a vehicle, according to a police source.

Owens is suspected of driving drunk and has been booked but not yet formally charged.

He remained in police custody while being treated at a local hospital and was released to officers, officials said.

Two festival-goers, including a woman from Austin and a man from The Netherlands, were killed and 23 more were injured early Thursday after the suspected drunken driver rammed through a police barricade in downtown Austin.

According to reports, Owens fled from police after an attempted traffic stop at a gas station about three blocks from where the crowd was standing outside a music venue.

Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell said this is the first time in its 27 years that SXSW has had an incident of this kind., calling it “tragic.”

Roland Swenson of SXSW said those involved with the organization are stunned and deeply moved by the event. He said they plan to carry on with scheduled daytime events at the Austin Convention Center to keep the tens of thousands of participants from outside the city occupied.

He said they would like to “just go home” and absorb the shock of “this horrific event” but that they believe their best use is to continue to operate.

Acevedo expressed support for carrying on.

“If you were to cancel events, it would be a victory for evil,” he said.

Asked if there were concerns about the barricades, Acevedo said they will always assess such situations but “an individual that's willing to drive down a street mowing people down is either going to crash through a barricade or go around a barricade.”

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo described a large crowd on the street, in line for a concert at The Mohawk on 10th and Red River Street. Many festival attendees also had just left another show at nearby Stubb's minutes before.

Hundreds of pedestrians were still on the street at the time, as rapper Tyler the Creator was due to perform. Downtown Austin is packed during South by Southwest, as more than 2,000 bands are registered for the annual festival. Much of Red River Street is closed to traffic because some of the city's most popular venues line the street.

Legendary California-based punk rock band X was playing inside The Mohawk at the time of the incident, and the club was filled to capacity. Because of the loud music, those inside the club were unaware of the disaster that occurred outside, a few feet away.

The incident, which lasted for just a minute, began at 12:30 a.m. when an APD officer attempted to pull over a suspected drunken driver into a downtown gas station, just off Interstate 35, Acevedo said. The suspect fled, weaving through traffic at the gas station, then drove the wrong way down a one-way street, Ninth Street, before turning onto a crowded Red River Street. An officer at the Red River barricade had to jump out of the way.

The suspect continued north, through two blocks of pedestrian traffic, before hitting the moped, a taxi, a parked van, and running into a curb, according to Acevedo. The driver attempted to run away when a police officer shocked him with a stun gun.

The Austin Police Department reported 966 DWI incidents citywide this year through February, down 10 percent from the same time period last year.

Police reported 585 DWI incidents citywide during March 2013, up 3 percent from March 2012. South by Southwest is held every March.

According to the Austin Police Department's last annual report, dated 2012, the city had 22 fatal crashes that year involving an alcohol-impaired driver, up from 10 the year before. That amounts to 29 percent of all fatal crashes, up from 21 percent the year before.